Surname Wildes - Meaning and Origin
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Wildes: What does the surname Wildes mean?
The last name Wildes is of English origin. It was first used in the Middle Ages as a name for someone who lived near a patch of wild forest land or lived on a large estate. It could also be used to designate a person who was wild, impulsive or daring.
The Middle English root of the name Wildes is the Olde English word wilde, which evolved from the Old Saxon word wild meaning “uncultivated, untamed, or feral.” Wildes was later used as a descriptive name to refer to people who were untamed, wild, or had an adventurous, reckless spirit.
During the Elizabethan era, Wildes was a fairly popular name and was often given to children as an expression of strength, courage, and independence. In medieval England, it was the surname of choice for landowners and people of lofty rank. It was used even more heavily by the Normans, who conquered England in 1066 and helped spread the name as they travelled and established their rule.
Today, the surname Wildes may still reflect its original symbolic and descriptive qualities, or may have evolved to refer to someone who is independent minded, daring, or has a strong personality.
Order DNA origin analysisWildes: Where does the name Wildes come from?
The last name Wildes is most commonly found in a few regions of Europe and North America.
In Europe, the surname is most commonly found in the UK. In particular, Wildes is a popular surname in the city of Birmingham in England. In addition, it also pops up in some other areas of Northern England, including Newcastle, Manchester, and Liverpool.
In North America, Wildes is found in Canada, primarily in the province of Ontario. The majority of people with the last name Wildes living in Canada are actually descendants of Irish immigrants. In the United States, Wildes is an uncommon name, but there are families in different parts of the country who bear it.
Overall, the last name Wildes is not especially common around the world, though it does have some significance in certain regions of Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Wildes
The surname Wildes is an anglicized version of two German surnames derived from the same root, which is "wild". The original German surnames are 'Wilde(s)' and 'Wilder(s)'. Wildes is the most common spelling of the name and other related spelling variations include Wild, Wilde, Wilder, Wilderman, Wildin, Wyld, and Wyldes. It is also common for the surname to be associated with and found in other language contexts, often taking alternate spellings, such as Wiled, Wile, Yildiz, Yildizli, and Wildy.
The surname is often associated with numerous different cultures and countries, particularly in Europe. In England, Wildes is most common among families with English or Welsh ancestry. It is also found amongst Irish families and is associated with several different parts of Scotland, such as Lothian, Renfrewshire, and the Borders regions.
In Germany the name is traditional and most commonly associated with Bavaria. It is also quite popular in the Netherlands, and found with various related spellings in France, Spain, and Portugal. In America, the surname Wildes is of English and German origin and is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
The exact origin of the surname is unknown and its meaning is widely speculated. Some suggest it to be derived from a nickname referring to someone who was wild or untamed, while others believe it to have originated as a topographic name for an area of wild land. The surname also strongly suggests a connection to nature and is believed to have spread and evolved over several centuries from its initial origins.
Famous people with the name Wildes
- Oscar Wilde: the Irish author, poet, and playwright who is most well known for his plays The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, and Lady Windermere’s Fan.
- Banksy: a pseudonym of a British street artist who mostly works in provocative and politically charged graffiti and other art forms.
- Tom Wilde: a British blues/rock singer-songwriter.
- Horace Wildes: a British-Canadian actor who has appeared in films like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, David Copperfield, and Mussolini: The Untold Story.
- Mark Wildes: a Uruguayan musician, songwriter, producer, and composer.
- Jonathan Wildes: an American attorney and founding partner of Wildes & Weinberg, P.C., one of the leading immigration law firms in the United States.
- Freya Wildes: a Dutch musician and songwriter.
- Gary Wildes: an American politician who served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1979 until 1993.
- Lawrence Wildes: an American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2001.
- Michelle Wildes: an American entrepreneur and CEO of Wildes Inc., a business consulting and coaching firm.